Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other political leaders on Wednesday condemned the alleged attack on CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury at AKG Bhavan, New Delhi. Vijayan said the attack amounted to an assault on Indian democracy.

File image of CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury. AFP

The chief minister's office tweeted: "Strongly condemn the attack on Com: @SitaramYechury. It amounts to an attack on Indian Democracy."

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the attackers were "cowards" who could not challenge ideology with ideology and that is why they confront political rivals through violence.

Chennithala alleged that Hindu Sena activists attacked the CPM leader and that it was a challenge to democracy.

CPM has decided to hold protests across the state, condemning the incident, party sources said.

CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran condemned the incident and said it exposed the 'intolerant attitude' of the Sangh Parivar.

Two persons had allegedly barged into the CPM head office in Delhi and shouted slogans against the Left, ahead of a press conference by Yechury.